For most Olympic athletes, winning a medal also means finding the perfect place to display it. For speedskater Josh Boudreau, he's got just the spot.
"I have a shoebox at home," said Boudreau, without a drop of sarcasm. The young man was fresh off a flight to Yellowknife on March 18 after competing in this year's Special Olympics, held in Italy.
Three medals dangled from his chest when he arrived SA国际影视传媒� two slivers and one bronze SA国际影视传媒� which he collected after competing in numerous races.
That is only the start of Boudreau's treasures, however.
"I exchanged a lot of pins," he said, reaching into his backpack to pull out a small, plastic bag that sparkled with metal brooches and badges from across the world.
Boudreau said he got his pins from other skaters. Pulling them out one at a time, he named each pin's country of origin: Japan, China, France, Belgium and other nations all flew from his hand, with each pin having its own unique design and weight.
Tourists at the airport looked on with various 'oohs' and 'aahs' as Boudreau, who's in his mid-20s, continued listing off his new collection.
His favourite one comes from Norway, he added, which features a cheese cutter on it.
"It's memories, I could say," Boudreau said, describing what the pins mean to him.
Sandra Turner, executive director of the Special Olympics NWT chapter, said she was there to watch Boudreau in action. She explained that he was meant to compete at the 2022 World Games in Russia, but due to the Covid-19 pandemic SA国际影视传媒� and the war in Ukraine, which Boudreau also mentioned SA国际影视传媒� his time to shine was put on hold.
"He's been waiting a long time for this opportunity and he did us proud," said Turner, adding that she was not surprised to see Boudreau take home a medal or two SA国际影视传媒� or three.
The Yellowknife athlete will need to qualify once more if he's going to compete again. Turner explained that the NWT has a quota that allows for only one athlete to represent the territory.
"So we have one athlete that goes to the summer games and one to the winter games," she said.
Turner added that she's been with the Special Olympics for about four years in her so-called retirement. After attending her first world games, she said she's hooked on the experience.
"The global community of those athletes is absolutely amazing. It just fills your cup," she said.
She added that opportunities like these are a great experience for athletes with intellectual disabilities.
"It's enriching their lives. It's an amazing opportunity for them that they wouldn't otherwise have."
